Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by high levels of IgG class autoantibodies that contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. The formation of these autoantibodies occurs in the germinal centers, where there is cooperation between follicular T helper cells (T(FH)) and autoreactive B cells. Prolactin has been reported to exacerbate the clinical manifestations of lupus by increasing autoantibody concentrations. The objective of this study was to characterize the participation of prolactin in the differentiation and activation of T(FH) cells, by performing in vivo and in vitro tests with lupus-prone mice, using flow cytometry and real-time PCR. We found that T(FH) cells express the long isoform of the prolactin receptor and promoted STAT3 phosphorylation. Receptor expression was higher in MRL/lpr mice and correlative with the manifestations of the disease. Although prolactin does not intervene in the differentiation of T(FH) cells, it does favor their activation by increasing the percentage of T(FH) OX40(+) and T(FH) IL21(+) cells, as well as leading to high serum concentrations of IL21. These results support a mechanism in which prolactin participates in the emergence of lupus by inducing overactive T(FH) cells and perhaps promoting dysfunctional germinal centers.